k9h
Well-Known Member
As it has been demanded!!
Yesterday was Quails 3rd & final day of the season
unless anymore more days hunting are lost to this hard freeze.
Motor was covered in a thick frost.
Usually I have all my stuff spead out over back seats but had to be a bit tidier as ferrying today!
GK (Game Keeper) had rung me on Sunday to see if I was still going & if I could go in my truck as short on transport for beaters. I said no probs. He said he would not put dogs in, though I said this was not a problem, he was worried of mucking up truck. Too late it already is!!
Land at 9am ready to have a brew & find out orders of the day.
It is a let day today & 250 birds.
So 4 drives before lunch & 1 after before losing light.
Quail was very excited to be out doing proper job again! Damn thought my last 2 days would of taken the edge off her! Oh well!
So set of down to first drive which is at end of estate drive. Driove down to GK house as need motor for quick get away. I take 2 beaters with me 1 with a lab, a spaniel & a cocker the other with a lab & young pup lab. So in back of Disco I have 6 dogs!
1st drive we wait till guns go past, then we start beating (tapping sticks against trees as there is no shouting or noise on this shoot). U through the rhoddies, Quail took a short while to remember to follow me (on lead) rather than trying to go the otherside of spindly young trees!
U quite a steap banking whilst crawling through the rhodies! You are not allowed to go around!
Once at top we wait till word that guns are in position. Quail was waiting quite patiently with only the od little squeak from her. Though she was shaking with adrenaline. Then we carry on. I going round edge of pen. Then we wait on track before heading down through giant pine trees down steep hill.
Steady away & just tapping sticks. Quail being very good but keen! Always checking that we are in line & steady away. Half way down some old pine branches on floor under tree. We are checking (waiting) Quail focused on these branches. Move on again & Quail want in!
She only went & put up a cock bird! I never saw it but she knew it was there
Get to fence at bottom & that is 1st drive over with. I am sent back for my motor to pick up with for next drive.
So Quail & I make our way as quick as poss back through were we have just come. Sadly she was trying to still work! I was like not now!
Pick up lads & move onto 2nd drive. Have to go up main A road to get to next drive then top of lane. Drop lads off, get out with Quail to be told to take motor down to bottom ready for end of drive & we were going on stop duty. Parked up & wait for guns to arrive. Short walk to pegs from where they park.
Wait till the beaters at back of crop (as they have a couple of fields to cross first). Whilst waiting at barn as guns went to pegs, Quail got quite a whine on. Tried telling her to be quite & then gave up & ignored her!
See beaters making their way across so go to our spot under tree
The follow along edge of hill in line with beaters in crop to try & lift birds up.
Guns lining out.
Before the beaters enter the crop something spooked the birds (was a very still day) there was a flush of around 50 birds, sadly one gun was chatting & missed it!
Beaters come through & there is a steady stream of birds.
Pickers up are told to keep out of the wood behind guns as we are doing that after lunch.
3rd drive
Lunch over back out down road park at top of lane, told to go to bottom with beaters. Get out then GK lands down & I am told to go back to the top again! So drive back up again!
Get out & I says Your orders change! I say I don't believe them till the drive has started!!
So we are to go in from the bottom of this cover as stops. Walk across with guns & see alovely deer heading out.
Have to lift Quail u & over a barbed wire fence as it is 4' high & up a steep banking. She landed & sat & waited for me
phew! Then into cover over a 3'6" wooden fencewhich she cleared without touching!
Woodcock came out behind us & along the line of the guns, he flew away as strong as he started!!
4th drive
So that drive over & dash back to motors. I am to take GK's wife & H beater & his lab, springer & cocker up to the strip above last drive before lunch to blank that in.
Last time I did this GK told me to let Quail off lead as shecould do no damage in there!
But it runs along side busy A road so last time I kept her on lead. Then the next part through small pine trees you have to battle along for 2-300meters. Again can let her off as fence at end. Last time I didn't as didn't have confidence in her (read didn't have confidence in me!) She was getting a tad hyper so I left her in truck for this drive as you do have to be able to move quick on it. So we walked the strip down. Then over to far end of pine trees.
Get half way through GK's wife is walking on the outside as she know's where the birds try to sneak out so she can blank them back!
Half way along I hear her cursing a bird!!
I am just on the inside by about 5m so move out to side of fence. Where she says this cock birdis just staring at her! I find it sat tight in low brambles, give it a gentle nunge with my stick & it still doesn't move. She says "well if it doesn't want to go lets leave it!" But the bird does not look well up close, so I put hand in, it flaps about into gap by fence but doesn't fly. Finally rugby tackle it & it is not very happy (well) It looks like it has been cracked round back of head (only way I can explain it) It was missing feathers & was matted down the lowest art of head into neck & was not opening it's eyes. So I took the desicion to dispatch it & end it's suffering. GK is glad I am doing it!!
Carry on as have to keep line straight. Over fence then onto a wood clearing the final top part of drive. Walk along gently putting birds up.
Even though the ground was clear ie not alot of cover just felled trees & covered in hard white frost, you could trip up over a bird before you saw it!
Drive over & back to base for lunch.
They supply us with soup & sausage rolls I always take a sandwich. In fact we all do! Is grand to get a warm brew though.
Tally at lunch is 159 birds. GK thinks he may slip in an extra drive for the guns.
5th Drive
Lunch over back out with full car, we are to walk in a cover we have already shot (5of us) whilst rest walk it in from the other side.
Quail is back on duty!
As we are walking across a couple of blank fields I let her off lead, which she is very happy about but still listening to be, till we cross the awful bridge over beck, she gets in ditch line & is wanting to be away on a scent but I called her back & giver her her due she did come back a little hesitent as she knew birds where down there! I just hold out my lead & she sticks her head in it!!
We walk through a cover & again I let Quail of for first half of it with her working quite well quatering away, then a bird gets up just in front of her & her just in front of me. Que me thinking
thats it she'll be gone. Quick pip on whistle & she sat & watched it away (phew) let her work a little more them pop her back on lead before it goes wrong! End of cover another 4' P&R for her to jump I sit her down & make her wait till I am over then call her up. Que bull rush! She goes to jump between top 2 blanks & smacks it with her head & bounces off! Call her again & this till see clears the lot by miles & comes & puts her head in lead!
Then we cross plough field, This drive the guns are stood on a track that is a BW so we put signs up at both ends saying "Shooting in progress" There is also a livery yard at the back of this drive who is told of shoot dates & is given a rung when we are clear so she can put her horses back out for those she wants to bring in, though most are left out they don't bother as shooting is away from them. We just walk through fields to get to cover.
I am again on stop in this drive but have to sweep along! Quail was perfect on this drive not a single whimper out of her
even when we are sat watching all the birds walk down towards us in pen.
Typically I am on my own for this drive so no-one to witness it!
This drive gave a good number of birds out for the guns & they flew well for them. Drive over.
Bottom of track there is a rushy section that 2 guns were in, they know of 2 birds down but can't se for the rushes & not much idea where they are!
So I let Quail off!
She went back to outside of pen as shewas keen there when I walked out of pen (am certain she knew there wasa bird there) But not know if there was I called her back to where I knew there was one.
In she goes & gun reckons it is more behind him & to the right. Quail is working ditch to left & is very intense. Then she pops out with a cock bird in her mouth! Que
Then the pickers up had worked down & I left him to look for the other bird whilst we headed of for the exta drive.
GK says get your truck, to which I look at him
as it is miles away where we started at! But is where we are heading too! He then realised! But we had enough room in other motors.
6th & Final drive
Again short walk up & then on stop duty on inside of fence infront of guns. All we had to do was tap so was quite good to get to watch guns at work. Quail was quite excited just the slight odd whimper then quite.
There are 4 guns lined below me. 1 directly below me 1 above him & the other 2 below him. The chap below me was getting birds going either side or they flew low so he left them. The odd good ones his son swied from him! So I hopped out over fence ripping my knee on barbed wire
I though I may have better chance of trying to get the birds to lift a little more for him. Sadly only a few though before the end.
Cha above him got a cracking shot on a woodcock, which landed about 20m from him. 50m from me. I was hoping at end of drive to send Quail for it to see if she would pic it (as not all dogs will) but I spotted him walking to pick it so let him do so.
The chap I had directley behind me walked down with me. He thanked me for trying to get the birds to fly better for him. I appologized that it hadn't really worked. He said he had really enjoyed his day though.
So was a good day in all & a bit more confident in Quail but we have a lot of work to do this summer! Correction I have a lot of work to do this summer!
Back to base for a brew & warm up final count was 252 so retty bang on!
We have a game man on site who processes the birds. He dresses them ready for the guns & sells the rest that he buys of the shoot owner. So nothing is wasted.
Sorry it has turned out so long, took some remembering & getting in the right order!
Drinks of your choice if you are still awake!
Yesterday was Quails 3rd & final day of the season
Motor was covered in a thick frost.
Usually I have all my stuff spead out over back seats but had to be a bit tidier as ferrying today!
GK (Game Keeper) had rung me on Sunday to see if I was still going & if I could go in my truck as short on transport for beaters. I said no probs. He said he would not put dogs in, though I said this was not a problem, he was worried of mucking up truck. Too late it already is!!
Land at 9am ready to have a brew & find out orders of the day.
It is a let day today & 250 birds.
So 4 drives before lunch & 1 after before losing light.
Quail was very excited to be out doing proper job again! Damn thought my last 2 days would of taken the edge off her! Oh well!
So set of down to first drive which is at end of estate drive. Driove down to GK house as need motor for quick get away. I take 2 beaters with me 1 with a lab, a spaniel & a cocker the other with a lab & young pup lab. So in back of Disco I have 6 dogs!
1st drive we wait till guns go past, then we start beating (tapping sticks against trees as there is no shouting or noise on this shoot). U through the rhoddies, Quail took a short while to remember to follow me (on lead) rather than trying to go the otherside of spindly young trees!
U quite a steap banking whilst crawling through the rhodies! You are not allowed to go around!
Once at top we wait till word that guns are in position. Quail was waiting quite patiently with only the od little squeak from her. Though she was shaking with adrenaline. Then we carry on. I going round edge of pen. Then we wait on track before heading down through giant pine trees down steep hill.
Steady away & just tapping sticks. Quail being very good but keen! Always checking that we are in line & steady away. Half way down some old pine branches on floor under tree. We are checking (waiting) Quail focused on these branches. Move on again & Quail want in!
She only went & put up a cock bird! I never saw it but she knew it was there
Get to fence at bottom & that is 1st drive over with. I am sent back for my motor to pick up with for next drive.
So Quail & I make our way as quick as poss back through were we have just come. Sadly she was trying to still work! I was like not now!
Pick up lads & move onto 2nd drive. Have to go up main A road to get to next drive then top of lane. Drop lads off, get out with Quail to be told to take motor down to bottom ready for end of drive & we were going on stop duty. Parked up & wait for guns to arrive. Short walk to pegs from where they park.
Wait till the beaters at back of crop (as they have a couple of fields to cross first). Whilst waiting at barn as guns went to pegs, Quail got quite a whine on. Tried telling her to be quite & then gave up & ignored her!
See beaters making their way across so go to our spot under tree
The follow along edge of hill in line with beaters in crop to try & lift birds up.
Guns lining out.
Before the beaters enter the crop something spooked the birds (was a very still day) there was a flush of around 50 birds, sadly one gun was chatting & missed it!
Beaters come through & there is a steady stream of birds.
Pickers up are told to keep out of the wood behind guns as we are doing that after lunch.
3rd drive
Lunch over back out down road park at top of lane, told to go to bottom with beaters. Get out then GK lands down & I am told to go back to the top again! So drive back up again!
Get out & I says Your orders change! I say I don't believe them till the drive has started!!
So we are to go in from the bottom of this cover as stops. Walk across with guns & see alovely deer heading out.
Have to lift Quail u & over a barbed wire fence as it is 4' high & up a steep banking. She landed & sat & waited for me
4th drive
So that drive over & dash back to motors. I am to take GK's wife & H beater & his lab, springer & cocker up to the strip above last drive before lunch to blank that in.
Last time I did this GK told me to let Quail off lead as shecould do no damage in there!
Get half way through GK's wife is walking on the outside as she know's where the birds try to sneak out so she can blank them back!
Half way along I hear her cursing a bird!!
Carry on as have to keep line straight. Over fence then onto a wood clearing the final top part of drive. Walk along gently putting birds up.
Even though the ground was clear ie not alot of cover just felled trees & covered in hard white frost, you could trip up over a bird before you saw it!
Drive over & back to base for lunch.
They supply us with soup & sausage rolls I always take a sandwich. In fact we all do! Is grand to get a warm brew though.
Tally at lunch is 159 birds. GK thinks he may slip in an extra drive for the guns.
5th Drive
Lunch over back out with full car, we are to walk in a cover we have already shot (5of us) whilst rest walk it in from the other side.
Quail is back on duty!
We walk through a cover & again I let Quail of for first half of it with her working quite well quatering away, then a bird gets up just in front of her & her just in front of me. Que me thinking
Then we cross plough field, This drive the guns are stood on a track that is a BW so we put signs up at both ends saying "Shooting in progress" There is also a livery yard at the back of this drive who is told of shoot dates & is given a rung when we are clear so she can put her horses back out for those she wants to bring in, though most are left out they don't bother as shooting is away from them. We just walk through fields to get to cover.
I am again on stop in this drive but have to sweep along! Quail was perfect on this drive not a single whimper out of her
Typically I am on my own for this drive so no-one to witness it!
This drive gave a good number of birds out for the guns & they flew well for them. Drive over.
Bottom of track there is a rushy section that 2 guns were in, they know of 2 birds down but can't se for the rushes & not much idea where they are!
So I let Quail off!
In she goes & gun reckons it is more behind him & to the right. Quail is working ditch to left & is very intense. Then she pops out with a cock bird in her mouth! Que
GK says get your truck, to which I look at him
6th & Final drive
Again short walk up & then on stop duty on inside of fence infront of guns. All we had to do was tap so was quite good to get to watch guns at work. Quail was quite excited just the slight odd whimper then quite.
There are 4 guns lined below me. 1 directly below me 1 above him & the other 2 below him. The chap below me was getting birds going either side or they flew low so he left them. The odd good ones his son swied from him! So I hopped out over fence ripping my knee on barbed wire
I though I may have better chance of trying to get the birds to lift a little more for him. Sadly only a few though before the end.
Cha above him got a cracking shot on a woodcock, which landed about 20m from him. 50m from me. I was hoping at end of drive to send Quail for it to see if she would pic it (as not all dogs will) but I spotted him walking to pick it so let him do so.
The chap I had directley behind me walked down with me. He thanked me for trying to get the birds to fly better for him. I appologized that it hadn't really worked. He said he had really enjoyed his day though.
So was a good day in all & a bit more confident in Quail but we have a lot of work to do this summer! Correction I have a lot of work to do this summer!
Back to base for a brew & warm up final count was 252 so retty bang on!
We have a game man on site who processes the birds. He dresses them ready for the guns & sells the rest that he buys of the shoot owner. So nothing is wasted.
Sorry it has turned out so long, took some remembering & getting in the right order!
Drinks of your choice if you are still awake!
